F-16 Commander Earns Rare Silver Star After Braving 15-Minute Missile Barrage

Lt. Col. William “Skate” Parks, commander of the 480th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, was awarded the Silver Star after leading a high-risk strike mission into one of the region’s most heavily defended air-defense zones on March 27, 2025.

Mission and valor

As mission commander for a 21-aircraft strike package, Parks led a four-ship of F-16s on a Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) task: drawing hostile fire to clear a safe corridor for the main strike force. Enemy defenders launched a "barrage of precisely targeted" missiles and anti-aircraft fire, forcing Parks and his formation into roughly 15 minutes of intense high-G maneuvers and countermeasure employment while missiles detonated mere feet from his jet.

Critical decisions under pressure

Despite being deep in hostile airspace and operating below minimum fuel levels, Parks coordinated an emergency rendezvous with two tanker aircraft to refuel his flight. The Air Force citation credits his actions with crippling enemy ballistic missile production facilities and says his leadership likely prevented the loss of two U.S. aircraft and saved the life of his wingman.

"For 15 minutes, with enemy missiles detonating mere feet from his aircraft, Parks led his flight through a series of high-G maneuvers and countermeasure employment," the citation states.

Deployment achievements and tactics

The March mission occurred during an eight-month deployment in which the 480th EFS supported multiple operations focused on countering hostile drones, missiles and Iranian-backed militants across the region. During that deployment the squadron recorded 108 aerial victories against enemy drones and land-attack cruise missiles — a modern Air Force record.

Parks is credited with tactical innovations that reduced costs and extended capability: employing AGR-20F rockets in an air-to-air role and prioritizing older AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles over AIM-9X variants. Those measures reportedly saved more than $25 million and produced the first AIM-9M air-to-air kill in 30 years.

Awards and remarks

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach presented Parks the Silver Star at a Pentagon ceremony on Nov. 26. Wilsbach noted the rarity of the decoration and praised Parks' leadership, decisive action and skill under fire. Parks also received a Bronze Star at the same ceremony.

Speaking at the event, Parks described the emotional extremes of the mission — from isolation over hostile territory to relief as command-and-control assets and tankers responded. He said the award is especially meaningful because of his family's multigenerational aviation service dating back to World War II and Vietnam.

Impact

Commanders credited Parks' courage and quick decision-making with directly contributing to the survival of his wingman and himself, and with enabling the strike force to destroy critical enemy missile production infrastructure. The operation and the squadron's record during the deployment highlight both tactical innovation and the high stakes of contemporary air operations.